Monthly Archives: May 2012

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May 31 1862, Wrote Julia, “Corinth is now in our hands without much fighting. Yesterday we found the enemy had gone taking with them all their men, arms and most of their supplies. What they did not take was mostly burned, in flames as we entered. What the next move, or the part I am to take I do not know. But I shall apply to go home if there is not an early move and an important command assigned me. My rank is second in this Department and I shall expect the first separate command and hope it will be to go to Memphis and make Head Quarters there. In that case I will write for you to join me leaving the three oldest children at school. I will be writing you every few days and will give you notice when and where to come to me. If there is not to be an early move I will apply for a short leave and go home. In that case I may reach Covington as soon as this letter.

“Some of our troops are following the enemy and today distant cannonading has been heard.

“Although but few prisoners have yet been taken, many may yet be captured. I hope so at least. What hte rebels plans were for evacuating I am unable to see. But they will turn up somewhere and have to be whipped yet. The country through which we have passed so far is poor and desolated by the presence of two large armies. What the people are to do for the next year is hard to surmise, but there must be a vast amount of suffering. I pity them and regret their folly which has brought about this unnatural war and their suffering.

“Col. Hillyer will go home in a day or two for the purpose of taking his family to New Jersey. If they go by the way of Cincinnati they will stop and see you. Kiss all the children for me and tell me all about them. How they learn at school and how they bear themselves among other children. I will not be able to send you any money this month as it will take all my savings to make up the amount I authorized you to draw from Mr. Safford.

“Orly Ross paid me and I sent $40.00 a few days ago by Capt. Rowley to be placed to your credit. There is about $130.00 rent to be paid in Galena which will have to be deducted out of the deposits made. I have written to Orvil on that point.

“Give my love to all at home. Write often to your long absent husband.”

“[O]n the 30th of May General Halleck had his whole army drawn up prepared for battle and announced in orders that there was every indication that our left was to be attacked that morning. Corinth had already been evacuated and the National troops marched on and took possession without opposition. Everything had been destroyed or carried away. The Confederate commander had instructed his soldiers to cheer on the arrival of every train to create the impression among the Yankees that reinforcements were arriving. There was not a sick or wounded man left by the Confederates, nor stores of any kind. Some ammunition had been blown up—not removed—but the trophies of war were a few Quaker guns, logs of about the diameter of ordinary cannon, mounted on wheels of wagons and pointed in the most threatening manner towards us.”

May 29, 2012, “General Logan, whose command was then on the Mobile and Ohio railroad, said to me that the enemy had been evacuating for several days and that if allowed he could go into Corinth with his brigade. Trains of cars were heard coming in and going out of Corinth constantly. Some of the men who had been engaged in various capacities on railroads before the war claimed that they could tell, by putting their ears to the rail, not only which way the trains were moving but which trains were loaded and which were empty. They said loaded trains had been going out for several days and empty ones coming in.”

May 28 1862, Received orders from Gen. Halleck, “If General McCook should be attacked to-morrow morning he must be re-enforced by General T. W. Sherman’s division, the remainder of McKean’s division being brought into line. W. T. Sherman and Hurlbut will probably be able to connect with McKean’s right to-morrow, which will leave Davies in reserve. The enemy will probably attack our advance in the morning. McClernand and Wallace have been ordered up.”

May 25 1862, Wrote Rev. John H. Vincent, “Your letter of the 17th inst. is just at hand and I hasten to answer. Since we last met, and since I had the pleasure of listening to your feeling discourses from the pulpit, much has transpired to make and unmake men. I felt that any who would say that this free and prosperous country of ours should be two, were traitors, deserving of instant punishment, and having been educated a soldier at the expense of the nation, it was my clear duty to offer my services. I never asked for any position or any rank, but entered with my whole soul in the cause of the Union, willing to sacrifice every thing in the cause, even my life if needs be, for its preservation. It has been my good fortune to render some service to the cause and my very bad luck to have attracted the attention of newspaper scribblers. It certainly never was my desire to attract public attention but has been my desire to do my whole duty in this just cause.

“I was truly rejoiced at receiving a letter from you and hope it will not be the last. If you should make your expected trip to Palestine, it would afford me the greatest pleasure to hear from you from that far off land and to reply punctually to your letters.

“Although in general robust health I now write from a sick bed. For several days I have been quite unwell and very much fear a spell of sickness.

“The papers keep you advised of our position, therefore it is not necessary for me to say anything on that subject. Two large armies however are menacing each other and it cannot be long before they come together.

May 24 1862, Wrote Julia, “I have just received three letters from you, one of them enclosing a letter from Fred. I wish you would make all the children write to me even if it is only a few lines they have to copy.

“You must have received some of my letters before this, but you make no reference to them which would indicate it.

“I have written you to join me whenever you hear of me being on the Mississippi river. I will now change that. You must join me as soon as possible, but wait until you get a letter from me saying where. It is hard to predict where I may be after the next great battle is fought.

“If our success is complete I may be stationed in some Southern state with some degree of permanency or may be sent around on the coast to operate there, or may get leave of absence to go home for a time. I want no leave whilst there are active operations, but confess that a few weeks relaxation would be hailed with a degree of pleasure never experienced by me before.

“My duties are now much lighter than they have been heretofore. Gen. Halleck being present relieves me of great responsibility and Rawlins has become thoroughly acquainted with the routine of office and takes off my hands the examination of most all papers. I think he is one of the best men I ever knew and if another War should break out, or this one be protracted, he would make one of the best General officers to be found in the country. He unites talent with energy, and great honesty, which, I am sorry to say is not universal int his war where patriotism alone, (and which cannot be genuine unless strictly honest), governs.

“I venture no prediction when Corinth will be taken, but that it will be taken there is no doubt. You may expect to hear from me every three or four days and to join me soon. William Smith arrived here this evening. He will probably remain a week.

“Enclosed you will find receipt for the $250 00 sent some time ago. I will probably be able to send $500 00 more at the end of the month. Love to all at home. Kiss the children for me. Same for yourself.”

“Some days before I had suggested to the commanding general that I thought if he would move the Army of the Mississippi at night, by the rear of the centre and right, ready to advance at daylight, Pope would find no natural obstacle in his front and, I believed, no serious artificial one. The ground, or works, occupied by our left could be held by a thin picket line, owing to the stream and swamp in front. To the right the troops would have a dry ridge to march over. I was silenced so quickly that I felt that possibly I had suggested an unmilitary movement.”

May 20 1862, Wrote Julia, “Again I write you from this camp in the Oak woods near Corinth. It would be a beautiful place for a Picnic but not so pleasant to make home at. Since my last our troops have moved up some two miles nearer the scene of the next great conflict but Gen. Halleck and myself still remain. The lines are so long that it is about as convenient to visit them from here as from some nearer point.

“When the great battle will come off is hard to predict. No pains will be spared to make our success certain and the is scarcely that man in our army who doubts the result.”

“I want very much to see you and the children. When I will have that pleasure is hard to tell. If we get any place where we are likely to remain any time, you can join me but the children must remain at school. Does Missie continue to learn as fast as she did? Is Jess a good boy and how often does he fight his Grandpa and Aunt Mary? You have never told me what he says about his five shooter that i am saving to take him. Jess must be about big enough now to leave his Ma and join me as Aid-de-Camp. Tell him that if he can ride a horse, wear a sword and fire his pistol, to come on. It won’t do for him to be a soldier though if he ever cries. He must try and go without showing such youthful weakness for a week before he starts.

“Give my love to all at home. This is the third letter I have written since receiving one from you.

May 15 1862, Wrote Gen. Thomas, “The two Divisions of the Reserve having an extended line to guard with Cavalry, and but about 350 men to do the duty, you will please designate two squadrons from your Command to report to Major Gen. J. A. McClernand, Commdg Reserve, for duty temporarily.”